Horse Racing: Sat. Belmont's card (post #1134), NBC coverage begins at 4:30 pm ET

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

September 8, 2017

Belmont (New York):

• The fall meet opened today. Races generally played true to form. The track handled over $8,000,000 for the opener.
• Javier Castellano got off to a quick start with two wins.
• Trainers Carlos Martin and Chad Brown each won twice.
• Rubilinda (Jose Ortiz/Chad Brown) won the $100,000 feature race as 4-to-5 favorite and wowed many onlookers with her terrific finish. Sired by Frankel. The runner up, ridden by mid-Atlantic regular Feargal Lynch, almost earned the stunner of the day but finished in place position with an 11-to-1 shot.
• If there was anything approaching a shocker, it was race 2 when Madame Barabarian won with a driving finish at 10-to-1. Connections Angel Arroyo/Richard Metivier don't have too many wins in New York. The filly finished third at Suffolk Downs earlier this summer and entered this race with a lifetime mark of 21 1-2-3.

Penn National (Pennsylvania):

• Angel Rodriguez is 7 4-2-0 tonight. Earlier today, he won his only ride at Laurel. That makes five wins and two places in eight rides at two tracks.

Laurel (Maryland):

• Opened its fall meet today.

Arlington Park (Illinois):

• The $1 Super High Five Jackpot paid out $121,699 after jockey Jose Lopez's third win on the card.

Gulfstream (Florida):

• Canceled due to the impending hurricane.

Los Alamitos (California):

• Bug Evin Roman won three times.
• Favorites won six of the eight races.

Woodbine (Toronto, Canada):

• Canceled due to the tragic death of an exercise rider.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

September 9, 2017

Belmont (New York):

• Angel Arroyo won twice today, the only rider or trainer with multiple victories.
• The $2 Pick 4 paid over $18,000 in the finale. Javier Castellano finished second and paid $17.00. That is a very uncommon sum for a Castellano place position.
  The second running of the Seattle Slew was won by Securitz (Manny Franco/James Jerkens). Odd that there isn't a lengthy history stakes race named after Slew.

Parx (Pennsylvania):

• The $2 Pick 3 paid $32,671.

Delaware Park (Delaware):

• On the August 6 review under Suffolk Downs, I mentioned:
  

  One of the wins for Tammi Piermarini was on a 1-to-9 lock. Dr. Blarney is a Mass-bred and arguably the best of the rare state breds currently running. The 4-year-old is 6-for-6 lifetime at Suffolk and 14 10-0-1 lifetime (10 wins in 14 races should be cause for celebration). Trained by Karl Grusmark who has been training since 1965.

  This horse won his last three races by more than a combined 25 lengths. Today was a different story as the 4-year-old gelding also went to the lead was passed briefly but fought back to win over a Godolphin horse. Victorious yet again to improve to 15 11-0-1. Eleven wins in 15 starts is a tremendous achievement.

Indiana Grand (Indiana):

• Miami Tiger went gate-to-wire and paid $86.80...to show! That is right there with the largest show totals I have seen. Second place horse paid $11.00 and the third place horse returned $20.20. The 1-to-9 favorite finished fourth. Bridgejumpers lose mightily.

Kentucky Downs (Kentucky):

• All races had a minimum of $130,000 purses.
• A wildly difficult card to handicap.
• Florent Geroux was the big winner with three victories including with Hogy who was out for the 45th time and recently claimed by Michael Maker for $80,000. Maker basically triple his investment with this one win.
• Michael Maker trained the winners of the last two races.
• Julien Leparoux does his best riding in Kentucky. He won the finale in the 1.5 mile Grade III Kentucky Turf Cup and its $600,000 purse with Oscar Nominated.
  
  ​
• Three of the five racing dates are in the books: Michael Maker leads all trainers with five wins and Julien Leparoux (5), Florent Geroux (4) and Tyler Gaffalione (3) lead the jockey's race.

Louisiana Downs (Louisiana):

• Brad Cox had an impressive day going 4 3-1-0 including winning the $200,000 Super Derby. All in all, he was 8 5-1-2 (5 wins in 8 starts and in the money in every race) covering three tracks in Indiana, Kentucky and Louisiana.

Remington Park (Oklahoma):

• The last three races closed with a bang.
• Race 7: $33.20 winner.
• Race 8: $88.60/$35.80 win and place. $38.00 for place by the runner up. $1,111 exacta. $.50 trifecta paid over $7,800. The $.10 super neared $6,000.
• Race 9: Double paid over $800. The $.50 Pick 3 paid close to $2,000. The $.50 Pick 4 returned $7.464.

Woodbine (Toronto, Canada):

• With multiple winners today, the carryover for Sunday is $1,374,979.

Hastings Racecourse (Vancouver, Canada):

• Race 7: The biggest pay out in North America with a $1 super paying $31,000+.
• Race 8: In the $150,000 British Columbia Derby, the feature race, veteran U.S. rider Aaron Gryder settled for third with the favorite. Chief Know It All nosed out the place horse in a close finish. (video here: https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-ra...9/8/british-columbia-derby?utm_source=twitter)
  
• Race 9: The $1 Pick 4 paid over $12,000 following the final race on the card.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

September 10, 2017

Belmont (New York):

• In the $100,000 feature race, Joel Rosario out-rode Javier Castellano in a stretch drive. Not too many riders will be able to beat Rosario in such instances but Castellano was sent off at 3-to-5.
  
  ​
• Luis Saez, Javier Castellano and Joel Rosario each won twice as did trainer Chad Brown.
• Eric Cancel started the day with a win at 12-to-1, the longest shot on the board.
• Successful $2 Pick 6 bets got approximately $16,000.
• Through three racing days, the leading rider is Javier Castellano, unexceptional at the Saratoga meet, with six wins. The leading trainer is Chad Brown with four wins.
• As with Saratoga, John Velazquez is off to a terrible start at 1-for-16. We'll see if he recaptures the magic of the last few weeks at the Spa.
• What is up with Junior Alvarado? He is 0-for-11. This inability to compete so adeptly as prior to his injuries is getting prolonged and disconcerting. Some of it is mounts but he is almost always ambitious and that hasn't been seen too often.

Monmouth Park (New Jersey):

• Racing concluded today for the 2017 calendar year. Gains across the board as on-track wagering averaged $424,556, a 7.9% increase over last year, Simulcast handle was up slightly, too. Attendance was up 7.4% with an average of 9,234 fans.
• Meadowlands has eight days of racing spread over late September into October and then New Jersey goes dark with the T-breds until May/June 2018.

Kentucky Downs (Kentucky):

• The configurations and uniqueness of the track, at least in North America, is obvious and abundant.
• Seven of the ten races had a minimum purse of $130,000.
• This was the fourth of the five scheduled racing days in 2017, the final day of racing is Thursday.
• Jose Lezcano, frequently mentioned as a top turf rider, visited from New York and won three times including twice for Bill Mott. They were the only rider or trainer to win multiple times.
• Jose Lezcano started the day successfully as a replacement rider for Illinois-based Santo Sanjur and went gate-to-wire. Florent Geroux's mount was scratched in the gate after rearing up.
• Julien Leparoux seemed to have the horse in race 10 but it didn't alter the morning line of 3-to-1 much. He appeared to make a move and about to pass the leader but that never materialized. The $350,000 feature race had an exciting stretch but ultimately Drayden Van Dyke repelled the effort and won on a 7-to-1. The California-based rider was riding an East coast colt.
• "If" being the ultimate word in our lexicon, but "if" Jack Gilligan didn't miss the break in the fourth race he may have had something exceptional at 81-to-1 in a $130,000 purse. The start was flawed but the horse ran his heart out and finished third. Brian Hernandez, Jr, a capable and consistent rider, won at 10-to-1.
• Exclusive to the track is a Jockey 7 Wager in which players can bet on jockeys starting with the 4th race and ending with the finale in race 10. A point system is devised based on top-four finishes (25-12-9-5) for riders. This sounds like a gimmick bet intended to attract more casual followers but nonetheless has an audience that allows for growth.

Canterbury (Minnesota):

• McLean Robertson was in the money 67% of the time: 21 3-7-4. He has 15 starters entered for Friday and 14 the following day. That is a gigantic total of 29.

Los Alamitos (California):

• The $.50 Pick 5 was bolstered by some nice wins including two from Stewart Elliott. The winning combo paid over $18,000 for successful $.50 bets.
• With the opening weekend in the books, bug Evin Roman (7) has a 3-win lead over veterans Stewart Elliott and Edwin Maldonado, the latter is 40% at the meet.
• Jeff Bonde has been training in California since the mid 1970s. He is currently 3-for-4 (75%) at the meet and is the leading trainer.

Woodbine (Toronto, Canada):

• The $.20 Super High Five Jackpot will exceed $1.4 million for the next racing day. Successful bettors today received $22,000+ for their efforts.
• The finale rocked the board with 22-to-1, 14-1 and 15-1 on top. The tri paid over $7,600. The super returned more than $11,000 for a $.20 bet.
• Only five riders won with the 10-race card led by Patrick Husbands's three wins.

==================
Gulfstream Park (Florida):

• An update with Gulfstream, it seems the track was spared any significant damage. Though Calder's track has been a shell of itself for a few years, its annual meet begins next month and lasts through November. No word yet on any damage to Tampa Bay Downs.

http://live.drf.com//nuggets/38639-gulfstream-park-escapes-brunt-of-hurricane-irma

Gulfstream Park officials said damage to the grounds from Hurricane Irma was minimal to none after the worst of the storm had passed through the area by late Sunday afternoon.

Except for some palm fronds litering the area, the barn area and racetrack appeared to suffer no effects from the monster storm, the eye of which passed well to the west of Gulfstream Park.

Officials said no decision on when racing might resume at Gulfstream Park would be made until Monday at the earliest Entries have been drawn for Wednesday's and Thursday's programs but there are many factors involved not the least of which is when the majority of horses who were evacuated from the track would be able to return to the grounds. Officials said all but approximately 250-300 horses were evacuated, many to the track's satellite training center, Palm Meadows, located 40 miles to the north in Boynton Beach. A large number were also moved to Ocala which unfortunately is now expected to be in the general path of Irma later this evening and into Monday morning.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

The three winningest riders in the U.S. to date in 2017 are:

1. Tyler Gaffalione -- 224 (basically based at Gulfstream year round)
2. Jose Ortiz -- 211 (basically New York in the spring/summer/fall, Gulfstream in the winter; big purses nationally)
3. Irad Ortiz, Jr. -- 211 (basically New York in the spring/summer/fall, Gulfstream in the winter; big purses nationally)

The five winningest riders based on purse money earned in the U.S. to date in 2017 are:

• Jose Ortiz $20,000,000+
• Javier Castellano $18,000,000+
• Mike Smith $16,000,000+
• Irad Ortiz, Jr. $14,000,000+
• John Velazquez $13,000,000+

The former shows how tremendous Gaffalione has been in 2017 with more victories than any other rider based in the United States. The latter indicates who gets the mounts in the bigger races. That should change in Gaffalione's favor in the coming years.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

It didn't match the wind speeds generated by Hurricane Irma, but Florida horsemen released a collective sigh of relief Sept. 11, as initial reports suggested the industry had dodged a bullet.

While some communications were hampered by phone and power outages, representatives of horsemen's groups, tracks, and training centers from South Florida to Ocala Monday morning said there were no initial reports of human or equine injuries because of the storm.

Barns, track surfaces, and frontside facilities all held up well at tracks and training centers. Some barns at Gulfstream Park saw shingle damage, but the facility and track surfaces were in good enough shape that the track plans to resume training Sept. 12, simulcasting Sept. 13, and racing Sept. 16.

Roof damage to barns was reported at Tampa Bay Downs, which currently is not racing; and the Palm Meadows training center had tree damage. Barns at Gulfstream Park West also held up well, sustaining minor gutter damage. There were also downed trees.

https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-ra...weathers-hurricane-gulfstream-to-race-sept-16

Bob Jeffries, president of the Tampa Bay Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association, said the Tampa Bay Downs backstretch saw damaged roofs that didn't appear to be major. The track property also had a number of downed trees. As Tampa Bay is dark, no horses were at the track.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

The Keeneland sale is something exceptional and began today. So far three yearlings have been purchased for more than $2.5 million and each is sired by Tapit, a grandson to Unbridled. The gift that keeps giving.

Ongoing (Sept. 11-23) sale and prices: http://www.keeneland.com/livevideo/sales/videowithcat.php

Hip No. 0105 was purchased for $2,500,000
Hip No. 0049 was purchased for $2,600,000
Hip No. 0069 was purchased for $2,700,000

​

Hip 0105 looks like Unbridled now. What a beauty, what a striking lad.

​

-------------------------------------
And the numbers are in on day one:

https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/223523/numbers-soar-at-keeneland-september-opener

Keeneland reported 95 horses sold for gross receipts of $54,175,000, an increase of 56.9% over the first-day figure of $34,531,000 paid for 108 head a year ago. The average price of $570,263 represented a gain of 78.4% over the $319,731 for the comparable 2016 session and the median rose 86.9% to $500,000 from $267,500.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Through two sessions, Keeneland has sold 289 yearlings for gross receipts of $102,396,000, an average price of $354,311 and a $255,000 median.

"(There was) very lively trade today," said Geoffrey Russell, Keeneland's director of sales operations. "The whole goal in the layout of the September sale this year was to get it off on a good mark, which we did last night, and I think the enthusiasm continued very favorably today.

"We wanted to build up excitement and enthusiasm and today (had that) all the way to the very end. The cross-section of buyers at the top end was very good, both domestically and internationally."

While there were no seven-figure transactions Sept. 12 compared with the eight sold Monday, many of the same participants who helped boost Book 1 receipts to $54.175 million were in play for Book 2's opener, including Sheikh Hamdan's Shadwell Estate Company, Kerri Radcliffe, Coolmore's M.V. Magnier, Godolphin, and Peter Brant's White Birch Farm, among others.

The session-topper, a son from the last crop of deceased stallion Scat Daddy, seventh on the 2017 leading sires list, was bought by Kerri Radcliffe for $950,000 from the offerings of Gainesway. Consigned as Hip 506, the colt is the first foal out of the stakes-placed Mr. Greeley mare Miss Lamour, a daughter of the multiple grade 3 Storm Cat mare Batique. He was bred in Kentucky by the Helen K. Groves Revocable Trust.

https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/223547/late-buying-drives-keenelands-second-session

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

September 13, 2017

Limited offerings today with most tracks dark.

Delaware Park (Delaware):

• Race 5: 13-1, 6-1, 28-1 and 40-1 led to an $89,453.80 return for a successful $1 superfecta.
• Race 8: 3-1, 43-1, 29-1 and 36-1 finished 1 through 4. The $1 Pick 4 paid over $5,700.

Indiana Grand (Indiana):

• One of the easiest graphics to read. Nice colors and choice of fonts.
• Race 7; 8-1, 76-1 57-1 and 4-1 led to a $.10 super worth $3,671. The $.50 tri paid over $3.700. The $.50 Pick 4 returned more than $7,000.

Albuquerque Downs (New Mexico):

• Kudos on the color scheme. The purple is a welcome change from the norm. However, the fonts with the trainer/jockey/horse could use change.

---------

Day 3 of the Keeneland sales...

On Wednesday, Keeneland sold 194 yearlings for a total of $47,018,000, an average of $242,361 and a median of $180,000. Cumulatively, a total of 483 horses have sold for $149,414,000, for an average of $309,346 and a median of $220,000.

https://www.paulickreport.com/news/bloodstock/follow-day-3-keeneland-september-sale-2/

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Kentucky Downs has set a track record handle of $24,567,471 through four racing days. The track's annual meet of five days concludes tonight. This is a popular meet in which to wager among the most serious of handicappers and partly due to a low takeout. It can very difficult to gauge in part to the distinctive design of the track among other factors. With Gulfstream and Belmont not operating today and considering the average handle of the first four days, though one was a Saturday, the track could exceed $30,000,000. That would be extraordinary.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

September 14, 2017

Kentucky Downs (Kentucky):

• Add $5,679,416.31 to the prior record-setting handle to push the total past $30,000,000 wagered for five racing days.
• The combo of Chris Landeros and Joe Sharp won the first two races. The double paid $219. Landeros became a father earlier this week.
• Joe Sharp had the natural hat trick as he trained the winners of the first three races.
• Chris Landeros and Jose Ortiz both won two races. Trainers Joe Sharp (3) and Michael Maker (2) also won multiple times.
• Julien Leparoux (6) and Michael Maker (8) won the jockey and trainer titles at the meet, respectively.

Delaware Park (Delaware):

• A horrifying spill in race three in which multiple jockeys were injured including 53-year-old Jose Ferrer who broke eight ribs and broken bones in his back among other injuries. Rider Victor Carrasco suffered what has been reported as multiple broken bones in his leg. Thankfully, none of the horses was seriously injured.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

The sales are soaring.

Keeneland sold 198 yearlings for a total of $47,231,000, an average of $238,540, and a median of $175,000 during the Thursday session, which marked the final day first-week portion of the September sale. Through the first four days, Keeneland sold 681 horses for gross sales of $196,645,000, for an average of $288,759 and a median of $200,000. Thirteen horses have sold for $1 million or more compared to nine during last year's entire sale.

https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-ra...neland-septembers-fourth-session-stays-strong

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

September 15, 2017

Belmont (New York):

• Leslie Young, who is mainly a steeplechase trainer and whose husband suffered serious head injuries earlier this year in the same sport, won the finale with Irad Ortiz, Jr. riding. Risky Sour broke his maiden after 33 loses. His record is now 34 1-2-5. This is just the second time Young trained the horse.
• It isn't often Todd Pletcher has a 10-to-1 morning line in New York but today he did. It isn't often that Todd Pletcher is sent off at 8-to-1 in New York but today he was. It isn't often that Todd Pletcher is overlooked by handicappers in New York but today many did. Make that a $19.00 winner for Todd Pletcher.

Churchill Downs (Kentucky):

• The meet opened today and to some sizeable pay outs.
• The only jockey or trainer to win multiple times was rider Rayan Gazader. Raise your hands if you predicted that today.
• Race 5: $45.40 winner with rider Rayan Gazader.
• Race 6: $34.60 winner with rider Rayan Gazader. The double was a stunning $1,106.60. Again, raise your hands if you had the all-Rayan Gazader double. The Pick 5 paid $97,276.40. The Pick 3 paid $2,543.60. The $1 trifecta paid $1,492.50. The ticket was topped by 16-1, 8-1, 7-1, and 4-5.
• Race 7: The Pick 4 paid $25,985.20. The Pick 3 paid $7,448.60.
• Race 9: $70.40 winner.
• Race 10: Pick 4 paid over $17,000. No one, no one at all, hit the Pick 6. Winning bets were paid out for those who hit 5 of 6 races and that was over $5,000. Not bad for a bet that included a loss.

Arlington (Illinois):

• Limestone is a determined Illinois-bred. A son to 2004 Kentucky Derby fourth place finisher Limehouse, the 9-year-old gelding won at 8-to-1 in his 98th race. He has a lifetime mark of 13-16-15. He has earned over $200,000 the hard way as is often said.
• Melissa Zajac, who has 60 lifetime wins (about 25% at a recent check) and was a regular rider at Hazel Park in Michigan, had three mounts today, finished in the money twice and won with an 11-to-1 shot. She is currently a 5-pound bug. I don't believe she has ridden outside Michigan since last year when she began riding.

Canterbury (Minnesota):

• What the blazing saddles happened here today?
• 13-race card and let the fun begin.
• Race 13: Pick 4 paid $21,000+. Pick 3 paid over $2,000.
• Race 12: Pick 3 paid $10,000+.
• Race 11: $123 winner. $620 exacta. $819 double.
• Race 10: Pick 3 paid $1,126.
• Race 9: Pick 4 paid $17,000+. $1 super paid over $10,000. $2 tri paid over $3,000.
• Race 8: Pick 3 paid over $2,000.
• Race 7:...was quiet by comparison. Well, McLean Robertson won it!
• Race 6: $56 winner. $1 super paid over $75,000. The exacta paid over $1,100. The Pick 3 returned more than $3,000. Double paid over $800.
• Race 5: Pick 4 paid over $3,700.
• Race 4: Trifecta paid over $9,800. The $1 super paid over $22,000.
• Race 3: $1 super was over $47,000.
• Race 2: $1 super was over $22,000. The tri paid over $9,800. The runner up paid over $55 to place.

Woodbine (Toronto, Canada):

• Race 2: 18-1, 60-1, 10-1, 112-1 paid $7,828.75 for a $1 superfecta.
• There is a mandatory payout for the Hi-5 on Saturday. The jackpot will start with approximately $1,400,000 in the pool.

Royal Randwick Racecourse (Australia):

• Winx has now won 20 straight races.

​

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

September 16, 2017

Belmont Park (New York):

• Irad Otiz, Jr won three times as did trainer Chad Brown who won twice with Javier Castellano as the rider.
• Uni (Irad Ortiz, Jr./Chad Brown) won the Grade III $400,000 feature race.
• Leading riders in the early stages of the meet: Javier Castellano (8, 25%) and Irad Ortiz, Jr. (7, 18%). However, Joel Rosario has 6 wins with a percentage of 27%.
• Leading trainers are...shock....Chad Brown and Todd Pletcher. Brown has four more wins than Pletcher but with 15 more starts. Pletcher is 4-for-10 to date.

Parx (Pennsylvania):

• Trailing by four lengths in the stretch, not many horses can recover but an incredible burst elevated a 5-to-1 to nab the co-favorite prior to the wire and after finding the rail. It really was an impressive effort by Frankie Pennington and John Servis the latter whom trained Smarty Jones.

Laurel (Maryland):

• Laurel had a sturdy card with seven races offering purses in excess of $100,000. A New Jersey bred won the Grade III feature race and its purse of $250,000.
• In the finale, the $2 trifecta returned over $9,000 and the $1 super paid over $48,000. The $.50 Pick 5 returned more than $20,000.
• In race 7, there was a $52.00 winner, a tri that returned over $2,300 and a $14,299.60 $1 super. Edgar Prado, the well-traveled man of a thousand ages, was on an also eligible in the 14-hole and played the part of a wise rider perfectly.
• Race 5 had an exciting finish with three across the wire.
• Acacia Courtney was one of the studio hosts, absent from Gulfstream today but at another Frank Stronach track. Perhaps she will be getting more attention in his higher showcases.

Gulfstream (Florida):

• Gulfstream re-opened after the affects of Hurricane Irma. The track appeared to be in exceptional condition.
• In race 9:
  • the winner paid $144.60 and $51.40 for place.
  • The exacta was $2,961.20. [*] The trifecta was $51,628.40.
  • The $1 superfecta was a jaw-dropping $113,409. [*]The $2 Pick 4 paid a staggering $118,203.20.
  • The $2 Pick 3 seemed tiny by comparison at $1,883.20.
  ​

Churchill Downs (Kentucky):

• An intriguing card featuring two Breeders' Cup races. Winners of those two races received automatic invitations to designated races for the Breeders' Cup weekend.
• Brian Hernandez, Jr. had four winners and for four trainers. He was nullified of a chance to win another when he was tossed on board a favorite due to a riding infraction by Gabriel Saez who was DQ'd from the win and placed fifth out of six. Two days later, it was announced by the Jockey's Guild that Hernandez was the recipient of Jockey of the Week.
• 23-to-1 bomb Patrona Margarita (Brian Hernandez, Jr./William Calhoun) has an invitation to the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies race after winning race 11, the Grade II $200,000 Pocahontas. He was fourth at the 3/4 pole and won by 3 3/4 lengths. The $1 Pick 4 paid over $12,000.
  
  ​
• Jose Valdivia, Jr. who has been hot all summer in Illinois, won the Grade III $150,000 Iroquois. The Tabulator was given an invitation to the Sentient Jet Juvenile Breeders' Cup race.
  
  ​

Canterbury Park (Minnesota):

• After the craziness of the prior day, things settled but not without one standout achievement: McLean Robertson had five winners. Today, he was 9 5-0-0 but even more telling was that he won five of the six races in which he entered at least one starter. Three of his four losses, in essence, were in races in which he won (multiple starters). Robertson is one of my favorite trainers and has been posted here that he is an option when traveling to such places as Oaklawn in Arkansas and/or Delaware Park in addition to a go-to trainer in Minnesota. The man knows how to get a horse prepared. And make that 7 winners in the 18 races in which he entered starters over the last two days.
• The meet ended with a track handle of $43.67 million, just under a 1% increase from 2016. McLean Robertson had 33 more wins than the second place trainer (69 total) and won 25% of his starts. Jareth Loveberry was the leading jockey.

Woodbine (Toronto, Canada):

• The handle exceeded $13.6 million for the 13-race card.
• The Jackpot Hi 5 paid $4,319 on mandatory payout day. All winners collected that sum. The stipulation that only one winner could have the correct order of finish in a particular race was waived since this was a mandatory payout. Approximately $3.2 million in new money was wagered in addition to the carryover of $1.425 million.
• Junior Alvarado traveled from New York and delivered in his lone ride of the day. Quidura, a German-bred, was sent off at the overwhelming odds of 2-to-5 in the $250,000 Canadian Stakes. Alvarado has had a rough year with two surgeries and seemingly struggling with few mounts and subpar chances certainly at Saratoga this summer. But this was a perfect opportunity for him. Though not a "Win and You're In" Breeders' Cup race, my assumption is this filly will run at Del Mar that weekend. If Junior had failed with this...
• In the $300,000 Grade I Northern Dancer, a sensational finish with Johnny Bear edging out Hawkbill. The 15-to-1 morning line, sent off at 7-to-1 under the direction of Luis Contreras, got the slim victory.
  
  
  ​
• John Velazquez won the Grade I $800,000 Woodbine Mile for Canadian Hall-of-Famer Mark Casse on World Approval who was sent off at 2-to-1. The winner received an invitation to the Breeders' Cup Mile.
  
  ​

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

September 17, 2017

There were three races (two at Woodbine and one at Churchill Downs) that were designated "Win and You're In" for the Breeders' Cup weekend. Two more races at Woodbine today have that tag. They are:

• Natalma Stakes -- Juvenile Fillies Turf
• Summer Stakes -- Juvenile Turf

http://www.breederscup.com/races/breeders-cup-challenge

Next weekend is void of any such races at any track in North America or overseas. However, the following weekend has 13 "Win and You're In" for the Breeders' Cup weekend with seven in the United States including five at Santa Anita for its opening weekend on Saturday, September 30.

 

[GKJ]

https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-ra...-dies-at-95?utm_source=BHTW&utm_medium=social

Penny Chenery, the "First Lady of Horse Racing," and owner of Secretariat and Riva Ridge has passed away at age 95.

 

[Soliloquy of a Dogge]

Heartbroken to hear of the passing of Penny Chenery. Her contributions to the sport of horse racing are immeasurable.

Together again with her beautiful big red boy, the incomparable Secretariat. Eddie Sweat and Lucien Laurin as well. Rest well, Penny.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

This will always survive as one of the greatest sporting triumphs ever. "He is moving like a tremendous machine" remains one of the most memorable calls of any sport.

​

============================================================

September 17, 2017

Belmont Park (New York):

• Bill Mott trained three winners two ridden by Jose Lezcano who continues to excel on turf though he won on dirt today.
• Jose Lezcano is 5-7-3 in 22 starts covering his last four days of racing.
• Here we go again. One of the best rivalries ongoing is Chad Brown vs. Todd Pletcher. Brown leads the meet with 9 wins while Pletcher has 5 for second best. However, though Brown's 35% percentage is excellent, Pletcher has an astonishing 45% to date.
• Todd Pletcher won again with a 2-year-old, ridden fiercely by Javier Castellano.
• Javier Castellano has come out of the gate superbly. He leads the meet with 11 wins and is at 29%. Irad Ortiz, Jr, (8), Luis Saez (7) and Joel Rosario (6, a wonderful 27%) follow. Jose Ortiz, usually at or near the top of the New York meets, is just 1-for13 but spent some time in Kentucky. John Velazquez is also off to a cold start at New York with just 2 wins in 19 starts.

Gulfstream Park (Florida):

• Jonathan Thomas had one starter and he won again. The trainer is now 13 8-1-0 at the meet, 62% winners. He has 25 starters (per Equibase) under his care. The former assistant to Todd Pletcher has a record this year that is worthy of mention: 16-for-48 (33%). Remarkable.

Churchill Downs (Kentucky):

• If Corey Lanerie rode everywhere as successfully as he does in Kentucky... Lanerie had a 5-win day today in eight mounts.

Woodbine (Toronto, Canada):

• A $2 Pick 4 returned over $76,000.
• Have whip, will travel! In the Grade II Summer Stakes, a $400,000 purse, Jersey Joe Bravo rode Untamed Domain, trained by Graham Motion, to a 3-to-1 victory and an invitation to the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf race.
  
  ​
• Capla Temptress (Joel Rosario/Marco Botti) stunned some at 5-to-1 from an 8-to-1 M/L with a victory and invitation to the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf division. The Grade I Natalma Stakes had a $250,000 purse. The Irish-bred had three lifetime races, all in Great Britain where the trainer is based.
  
  ​

Golden Gate Fields (California):

• The meet ended today and the finale returned $13,858.70 for a successful $1 Super High Five bet. Barrington Harvey rode the winner in the last race at 31-to-1. The rider, from Jamaica, is under 6% in lifetime wins but is approaching his 500th lifetime victory. When he wins, it is usually on a price.

Los Alamitos (California):

• Southern Cal racing is in perhaps its quietest time of the year with this Fair Meeting lasting until September 26. Santa Anita opens later this month through October's end. Then Del Mar (San Diego area) takes center stage for the Breeders' Cup as host for the first time.
• 21-year-old bug rider Laura Werner, from England, suffered a broken collarbone and will be out of action indefinitely.

California 2017 racing schedule:

THOROUGHBRED MEETINGS - CENTRAL & SOUTHERN ZONES

• Santa Anita 12/26/16 - 07/04/17
• Los Alamitos 07/05/17 - 07/18/17
• Del Mar 07/19/17 - 09/05/17
• Santa Anita 09/27/17 - 10/31/17
• Del Mar 11/01/17 - 11/28/17
• Los Alamitos 11/29/17 - 12/19/17

THOROUGHBRED MEETINGS - NORTHERN ZONES

• Golden Gate Fields 12/26/16 - 06/20/17
• Golden Gate Fields 08/23/17 - 09/19/17
• Golden Gate Fields 10/18/17 - 12/19/17

 

[Soliloquy of a Dogge]

This will always survive as one of the greatest sporting triumphs ever. "He is moving like a tremendous machine" remains one of the most memorable calls of any sport.

​

You know, I've watched that clip what must be hundreds of times by now, and between Secretariat's performance and Chic's legendary call, it just keeps getting better and better. I'm not big when it comes to betting on sports, but I'd bet everything I own and more on Big Red's 2:24 never being eclipsed as well. It still defies logic how he ran each successive quarter mile faster and was still accelerating through the wire at the pace he was going. One of the greatest and most iconic moments in sport history.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

^ That call is so indelibly etched into our psyche that it adorns the back of T-shirts with Secretariat's image on the front. It perseveres generations.

September 18, 2017

Presque Isle (Pennsylvania):

• Not often we see $400,000 purses on a Monday night but we did tonight with the Grade II Presque Isle Downs Masters Stakes. Star riders included the Ortiz brothers and Luis Saez but it was Luis Contreras riding the Ontario-bred favorite Ami's Mesa for Josie Carroll to a track record victory. The field included 12 horses. The Woodbine connections ran the horse six times on its home track and twice at Gulfstream, her two worst performances, in her previous eight starts. She is now 6-for-9 lifetime. The question was how she would handle a surface outside Woodbine where she is 5-for-6.
• Under the lights, moments ago, an 89-to-1 won and paid $180.60. The $2 exacta paid $1,385. A $1 tri returned more than $2,600. The super was over $4,000 for a successful ten-cent bet. Eastern Sky is an Arkansas-bred out for the 10th time and a son to Argentianian great Invasor (who was a perfect 9-for-9 in Grade I races including the 2006 Breeders' Cup Classic.) Speaking of which, where have you gone Fernando Jara?? Doesn't have the same ring as to Joe DiMaggio. But I believe he is riding overseas some place. Take a look at the 2006 Breeders' Cup Classic. "I'm not disappointed, you can't win all the races," Javier Castellano. That was a pretty exacta and I didn't box it. Damn!
  
  ​
  
  

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

September 20, 2017

Belmont (New York):

• Jose Ortiz, who is the leading rider in North America in terms of purse money, suffered a knee injury when he was dismounted in the stretch. Initial reports say his left knee injury could keep him out of action through at least this weekend. Ortiz entered today 1-for-13 at the meet but won twice before suffering the injury.
  Currently, the winningest riders in the continental U.S. are:
  • Tyler Gaffalione 227 wins (who won three times at Gulfstream today)
  • Irad Ortiz, Jr. 217 wins
  • Jose Ortiz 216 wins
• Javier Castellano and Joel Rosario are having excellent starts to the meet.
• That was THE John Velazquez with a $63.00 winner. 31-to-1 with Johnny V.
• Luis Saez won the last two races including the $150,000 feature race.
• There was a lengthy review to determine this finish and the nod went to Dylan Davis on the outside. Both horses were sent out at high odds.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

September 21, 2017

Belmont (New York):

• Irad Ortiz, Jr. won twice and now trails Javier Castellano 13 wins to 10 in the rider standings at the meet. Castellano won the finale today as a replacement for Sheldon Russell who regularly rides in Maryland.
• Mike Luzzi had his first win of the meet in his 8th attempt. He needed to gun from the inside hole and he did. He held on for a win at 7-to-1. They know who to go to when they need a win. He is now 13% at meet, just one percentage point behind Jose Ortiz who could be the Eclipse Award winner for Outstanding Jockey in 2017. Luzzi!
• Jose Ortiz is scheduled to have an MRI on his left knee after a riding injury Thursday. UPDATE: He could return to riding next week.

Churchill Downs (Kentucky):

• Eight races tonight, there has been a unique jockey and trainer winning each.
• Florent Geroux topped a trifecta ticket that paid $3,344.20 thanks to the runner up who paid $44.40.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

September 22, 2017

Belmont (New York):

• Controversy in the first race. Nik Juarez, a visiting rider from Maryland, won the opener at 5-to-1 but was placed sixth after a DQ. Luis Saez was tossed from his mount as he tried to split the leader and the eventual winner, ridden by Rajiv Maragh, in the stretch. Juarez got the full blame. Eric Cancel, another jockey who spilled, was replaced on his two mounts later in the day after suffering a minor hand injury.
• In race 3, John Velazquez/Todd Pletcher had a 2-year-old break prematurely from the gate which is usually a telltale omen and was in this instance. A significant delay ensued. The 5-horse field was for $150,000. That couldn't have gone over very well in the camp of a perfectionist like Pletcher and for such a large purse.
• Joel Rosario won race 4 at 5-to-1 with an also eligible on the far outside in post position #13.
• What do I often say about Joel Rosario? If he wins early enough on the card, he will find the winner's circle another time. And so he did today when he followed the race 4 win with victories in races 5 and 8.
• In the 6th race, Joe Bravo offered an appealing choice overlooked by bettors. The horse likes to finish 1st or 2nd which has now done in 9 of 10 starts. The horse was sent off at 11-to-1 and finished in a dead heat for second.
• The power of Mike Luzzi. Get it while you can. Paid more than $15 for place and part of a $289.50 exacta and $2,500 trifecta behind a Luis Saez winner.
• The $.20 Pick Six paid out over $38,000 following the finale.
• To date, four riders have 10+ wins: Javier Castellano (15, 29%), Irad Ortiz, Jr. (11, 15%), Joel Rosario (10, 26%) and Luis Saez (10, 17%). Castellano has rebounded from a mediocre Saratoga meet. Rosario is riding as effectively as almost any meet since relocating to the east coast.

Meadowlands (New Jersey):

• Opened its 8-day meet with a 6-race card. The track handled over a million dollars. The track runs T-breds four days in both September and October.

Churchill Downs (Kentucky):

• In race 4, the $1 super paid over $11,000 when 23-to-1 and 76-1 finished 1st and fourth, respectively.
• The $2 Pick 5 paid close to $10,000 following race 6.
• The $2 Pick 4 paid more than $8,000 following race 7.

Gulfstream (Florida):

• The aptly named, at least after today's finale, Hope Is Rising broke his maiden in his 33rd start after getting the bob at the wire.
  
  ​

Los Alamitos (California):

• Edwin Maldonado had the natural hat trick with wins in three straight races.

 

[GKJ]

We'll see if I can make it over to Parx today. PA Derby is finally a Grade 1.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Parx has a pair of million dollar races today including the Cotillion.

This weekend's key races: https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-ra...weekend-stakes-rundown-grade-1-double-at-parx

http://www.brisnet.com/content/2017/09/west-coast-irap-clash-pennsylvania-derby/

PENNSYLVANIA DERBY (Grade I)

• What: This marks the first time this race has reached the top graded status. Riders coming in from all directions. Just one, Frankie Pennington, is PA-based.
• History: Inaugurated in 1979, Chad Brown and Bob Baffert have won two of the last three. Todd Pletcher has not won since 2002.
• When: Saturday, September 23, 2017, Race 11 of 13, 5:45 Eastern Time
• Where: Parx Casino and Racing (Bensalem, PA, near Philadelphia)
• Distance: 1 1/8 miles (9 furlongs)
• Surface: Dirt
• Purse: $1,000,000
• Runners (age, sex): Three-year-old. Open.
• Preview: http://cs.bloodhorse.com/blogs/unlo...oast-win-again-in-the-pennsylvania-derby.aspx and http://cs.bloodhorse.com/blogs/unlo...oast-win-again-in-the-pennsylvania-derby.aspx
• Television: TVG 24/7 horse racing.
• Full card: http://www.drf.com/race-entries/track/PRX/country/USA/date/09-23-2017

Post​

| Horse (location bred) | Age/Sex | Jockey |

Weight​

|

Trainer​

|

Morning Line Odds​

1|Timelline (KY)| 3/colt | Javier Castellano| 122 |Chad C. Brown |5/1
2|Outplay (KY)| 3/colt |John R. Velazquez| 119 |Todd A. Pletcher| 12/1
3|Watch Me Whip (KY)| 3/colt | Robby Albarado| 117 |Dale L. Romans| 20/1
4 |West Coast (KY)| 3/colt | Mike E. Smith| 124| Bob Baffert |8/5
5|Irap (KY)| 3/colt |Mario Gutierrez |122 |Doug F. O'Neill |3/1
6|Talk Logistics (FL)| 3/colt | Frankie Pennington |117 |Edward Plesa, Jr. |20/1
7 |Game Over (KY)| 3/colt |Kendrick Carmouche| 117 |Jorge Navarro| 15/1
8 |Irish War Cry (NJ)| 3/colt |Feargal Lynch |122 |H. Graham Motion |9/2
9 |Term of Art (KY)| 3/colt |Drayden Van Dyke |117 |Doug F. O'Neill| 20/1
10|Giuseppe the Great (KY)| 3/colt |Luis Saez |117 |Nicholas P. Zito| 20/1

==========================

OKLAHOMA DERBY (Grade III)

• What: The premium thoroughbred event in the state of Oklahoma. The 3, 5 and 8 are expected to attract much of the attention.
• History: Cliff Berry and the late Garrett Gomez both have won this race a record three times, a trivia question asked during last night's racing.
• When: Sunday, September 24, 2017, Race 11 of 12, 7:46 Central Time (8:46 Eastern Time)
• Where: Remington Park (Oklahoma City, OK)
• Distance: 1 1/8 miles (9 furlongs)
• Surface: Dirt
• Purse: $400,000
• Runners (age, sex): Three-year-old. Open.
• Preview: http://www.drf.com/news/girvin-battle-midway-top-oklahoma-derby
• Television: TVG 24/7 horse racing.
• Full card: http://www.drf.com/race-entries/track/RP/country/USA/date/09-24-2017

Post​

| Horse (location bred) | Age/Sex | Jockey |

Weight​

|

Trainer​

|

Morning Line Odds​

1| Altito (KY)| 3/gelding| Ramon A. Vazquez |124 |Federico Villafranco |30-1
2| B Squared (CA) |3/colt | Mario Gutierrez| 124| Doug F. O'Neill |12-1
3| Battle of Midway (KY) |3/colt | Flavien Prat| 124 |Jerry Hollendorfer |2-1
4 |McCormick (KY) |3/colt | Julien R. Leparoux |124| Ian R. Wilkes |15-1
5 |Untrapped (KY)|3/colt | Ricardo Santana, Jr.| 124 |Steven M. Asmussen |5-1
6| Gato Del Oro (KY)|3/colt | Rafael Bejarano |124 |Richard Baltas|9-2
7| Colonelsdarktemper (KY) | 3/colt | Jon Kenton Court |124 |William H. Fires| 4-1
8| Girvin (KY) | 3/colt |Robby Albarado |124 |Joe Sharp |7-2

 

[GKJ]

Booo, 1X scratched in the Cotillion.